Dwarf Spinyhead Blenny

Species distinguished by: well-developed cranial spines (not short and blunt) on nape posterior to orbital flange in 2 groups (one group on each side of the dorsal midline), each group with 8 to 11 spines; patch of cranial spines on nape ends anterior to supratemporal commissural pore; inner rim of posterior infraorbital bone smooth; dorsal-fin spines 18 to 20; total dorsal-fin elements usually 38 or fewer; nasal cirri with fewer than 6 (usually 2 or 3) free tips on each side; supraorbital cirrus moderately to strongly branched; two or more rows of teeth on each palatine bone; no large, eye-diameter sized dark blotch on side of head posterior to eye; black spot present or absent in spinous dorsal fin; no white stripe along ventral midline of head in life. Common amongst Chaenopsids: small elongate fishes; largest species about 12 cm SL, most under 5 cm SL. Head usually with cirri or fleshy flaps on anterior nostrils, eyes, and sometimes laterally on nape; gill membranes continuous with each other across posteroventral surface of head. Each jaw with canine-like or incisor-like teeth anteriorly; teeth usually also present on vomer and often on palatines (roof of mouth). Dorsal-fin spines flexible, usually outnumbering the segmented soft rays (numbering 7 to 37), spinous and segmented-rayed portions forming a single, continuous fin; 2 flexible spines in anal fin; pelvic fins inserted anterior to position of pectoral fins, with 1 spine not visible externally and only 2 or 3 segmented (soft) rays; all fin rays, including caudal-fin rays, unbranched (simple). Lateral line absent. Scales absent (Ref.52855).

Dorsal spines (total): 1820; Analspines: 2

Lives in burrows made by invertebrates (usually those of sipunculids) in dead corals in shallow water (

The dwarf spinyhead blenny (Acanthemblemaria paula) is a species of chaenopsid blenny found in coral reefs around Belize, in the western central Atlantic ocean. It can reach a maximum length of 1.8 cm (0.71 in) SL.